Moving to Sydney with Kids

Moving to any new city with the kids can feel like the ultimate mission. Sydney, thankfully, is a resource-rich city that provides the basic, and extra, needs for families with children of all ages. Before you relocate with the children, read our tips on moving with kids.

Now that the children are prepped and ready to move with you, it’s time to discover Sydney’s necessities for relocating. From schools to playgrounds, you won’t have any trouble helping your kids feel at home in Sydney.

Childcare and preschools

Sydney is home to a number of childcare and day care centres as well as preschools, each serving a purpose to families living with young children. The Australian Government’s mychild.gov.au website is an online portal with information on the different types of childcare options available and how to enrol. Visit the website to find your closest childcare centres and information on their services, vacancies and fees.

Schools

Within the state of New South Wales there are 3,136 schools, with 1,488 of those schools based in Sydney. The majority of these Sydney-based schools are Government funded and Catholic Schools. There are also a number of independent schools located throughout the city. Most of the schools in Sydney are co-educational, with a small number dedicated to single sex education. For more information on a specific school and to find the schools closest to you, visit the Australian School Directory website.

In NSW, the school year starts in January and ends in December with the year divided into four school terms. Schools are split between primary schools (kindergarten – year 6) and high school or senior schools (years 7-12). This means that on average, children in Sydney attend school between the ages of five and 18.

All schools in NSW have obligatory school uniforms that can be purchased from the school or nearby stockists. When enrolling your child into a school, you will be provided with the appropriate information on what you will need to purchase before your child can attend.

For more information on going to a public school in NSW, visit the NSW Department of Education’s website for high schools and primary schools.

Tertiary Education

After completing higher education in a Sydney high school, your child may wish to further their education by attending a tertiary institution such as a university or TAFE (Technical and Further Education).

Sydney students are encouraged to apply for university courses when beginning their final year of high school. Sydney is home to a number of world-leading universities. The universities located in Sydney include:

University of Sydney

University of Technology, Sydney

University of New South Wales

Macquarie University

Australian Catholic University

Western Sydney University

University of Notre Dame

Sydney students can begin attending TAFE qualified courses during their senior high school years and become accredited upon the completion of their studies. There are a number of TAFE NSW locations in Sydney, including:

Northern Sydney Institute

Sydney Institute

South Western Sydney Institute

Western Institute

Playgrounds

Let the little ones burn off some of their energy at Sydney’s child-friendly playgrounds located throughout the city and its surrounding suburbs. Many playgrounds now also feature equipment for children with disabilities so they too can enjoy a sunny Sunday afternoon at the park.

From playgrounds to picnic benches, discover your nearest child-friendly playground, its features and accessibility on Playground finder.

Sydney is also home to a number of pet-friendly and off-leash dog parks. Read more about moving with pets to Sydney here.

Sporting

As is the case with the rest of the country, Sydney is obsessed with their sports and there are several sports which capture the excitement of Sydneysiders. In schools, children are encouraged to participate in and join a sporting team. The predominant sport enjoyed throughout the city is Rugby League. Nine of the 16 National Rugby League teams are Sydney based:

Sydney Roosters

Cronulla Sharks

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Penrith Panthers

Parramatta Eels

Manly Sea Eagles

South Sydney Rabbitohs

St George Illawarra Dragons

Wests Tigers

Other popular sports which are child-friendly and popular throughout Sydney include Soccer and Cricket.